Mizmor 071 – From Infancy to Infirmity

(א) בְּךָ־ה’ חָסִיתִי אַל־אֵבוֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָם:

(1) I [continue to] seek refuge in You, Hashem; let me never be shamed.

NOTE: For a PDF of this mizmor, please click here. This will enable you to print out the entire text of the article. [Rev. 0]

Key Concepts of Mizmor 071 (From Infancy to Infirmity)

This mizmor is a continuation of Mizmor 070, which David Hamelech composed in his later years, while fleeing from his son Avshalom. During the course of the mizmor he reminds himself of his lifelong relationship with Hashem, a relationshiop which effectively began in his infancy and continued until the last stage of his life. He thanks Hashem for all the kindnesses He has shown him throughout the years. He is especially grateful for Hashem’s unique quality of merciful justice by which He grants man the opportunity to experience a moral rebirth. Through this quality man is enabled to do teshuvah for his sins, effectively blotting out the sins of a lifetime as though they had never existed. Thus, when man faces the end of his days, he can do so in the pristine state of his infancy.

Exploring the Mizmor

PART 1. DECLARATION OF BITACHON. David begins this portion of his tefillah with a declaration of bitachon (trust) in Hashem, accompanied by an appeal to be rescued from the resha’im who are pursuing him.

(א) בְּךָ־ה’ חָסִיתִי אַל־אֵבוֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָם: (ב) בְּצִדְקָתְךָ תַּצִּילֵנִי וּתְפַלְּטֵנִי הַטֵּה־אֵלַי אָזְנְךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי: (ג) הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר מָעוֹן לָבוֹא תָּמִיד צִוִּיתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי כִּי־סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אָתָּה: (ד) אֱלֹקַי פַּלְּטֵנִי מִיַּד רָשָׁע מִכַּף מְעַוֵּל וְחוֹמֵץ:

(1) I [continue to] seek refuge in You, Hashem; let me never be shamed. (2) In Your merciful justice rescue me and deliver me. Incline Your ear to me and save me. (3) Be a sheltering rock for me to which I may always come, for You have been my Rock and my Fortress. (4) My G-d, deliver me from the hand of the rasha, from the grasp of the stalker and the criminal.

Navigating Tehillim. David’s language of trust in Hashem is modeled on that of the first few verses of Mizmor 031 (Rebuilding Bitachon), which he sang while fleeing from Shaul Hamelech and his soldiers.

PART 2. GRATITUDE FOR PAST MIRACLES. David thanks Hashem for having sheltered him from the very beginning of his life. Because of Hashem’s protection Daviod has survived the enemies of his youth.

(ה) כִּי־אַתָּה תִקְוָתִי אֲדֹ־נָי ה’, מִבְטַחִי מִנְּעוּרָי: (ו) עָלֶיךָ נִסְמַכְתִּי מִבֶּטֶן, מִמְּעֵי אִמִּי אַתָּה גוֹזִי, בְּךָ תְהִלָּתִי תָמִיד: (ז) כְּמוֹפֵת הָיִיתִי לְרַבִּים, וְאַתָּה מַחֲסִי־עֹז: (ח) יִמָּלֵא פִי תְּהִלָּתֶךָ כָּל־הַיּוֹם תִּפְאַרְתֶּךָ:

(5) For You have been my hope, O my Master, Hashem/Elokim, my secure refuge from [the earliest days of] my youth. (6) I depended on You from the womb. You withdrew me from the innards of my mother. My praise is always of You. (7) I became a marvel to the many; You were my refuge of strength. (8) My mouth will be filled with Your praise. Every day [I will offer] glorification of You.

Navigating Tehillim. David’s gratitude for the miracle of birth (v. 6) reflects a similar emotion which he expressed in Mizmor 022 (The Morning Star), v. 22:10.

PART 3. PLEA FOR THE PRESENT. Now that David has begun to experience the effects of old age, he asks Hashem not to abandon him, but to hurry to his assistance because the bitter enemies he is now facing are filled with renewed enegy and hatred.

(ט) אַל־תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי לְעֵת זִקְנָה כִּכְלוֹת כֹּחִי אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי: (י) כִּי־אָמְרוּ אוֹיְבַי לִי וְשֹׁמְרֵי נַפְשִׁי נוֹעֲצוּ יַחְדָּו: (יא) לֵאמֹר אֱלֹקִים עֲזָבוֹ רִדְפוּ וְתִפְשׂוּהוּ כִּי־אֵין מַצִּיל: (יב) אֱלֹקִים אַל־תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי, אֱלֹקַי לְעֶזְרָתִי [חישה] חוּשָׁה: (יג) יֵבֹשׁוּ יִכְלוּ שֹׂטְנֵי נַפְשִׁי, יַעֲטוּ חֶרְפָּה וּכְלִמָּה מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתִי:

(9) Don’t cast me off in [my] time of old age. Now when my strength is failing, don’t forsake me. (10) For my enemies speak against me, and those who have been waiting [to take] my life consult together, … (11) saying, “G-d has forsaken him, [let us now] pursue and catch him, for there is no rescuer.” (12) O G-d, don’t be far from me, You are my G-d, hurry to my assistance. (13) Let the accusers of my soul be shamed [when they see that they are] finished. Let those who seek my harm be wrapped in disgrace and humiliation.

PART 4. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. Despite the dangers he is now facing David is hopeful that he will have the opportunity to thank Hashem in the future and praise Him for the merciful justice that He will invoke on David’s behalf.

(יד) וַאֲנִי תָּמִיד אֲיַחֵל, וְהוֹסַפְתִּי עַל־כָּל־תְּהִלָּתֶךָ: (טו) פִּי יְסַפֵּר צִדְקָתֶךָ כָּל־הַיּוֹם תְּשׁוּעָתֶךָ, כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי סְפֹרוֹת: (טז) אָבוֹא בִּגְבֻרוֹת אֲדֹ־נָי ה’, אַזְכִּיר צִדְקָתְךָ לְבַדֶּךָ:

(14) As for me, I will always hope to add to all Your praise. (15) My mouth will tell of Your merciful justice every day and of Your yeshuah, though there are so many [examples] that I do not know [their] numbers. (16) I will come with [examples of] the mighty deeds of the Lord, Hashem/Elokim. I will refer [especially] to Your merciful justice, Yours alone.

Navigating Tehillim. In this mizmor we have seen an indication that David felt he was coming to the end of his life. (71:0). In fact, David tentatively brought his work on Sefer Tehillim to an end in the next mizmor (72:20). However, he continued to hope for the opportunity to continue adding to his praises of Hashem (71:14). He was granted this wish and continued to compose original works while collecting and editing the mizmorim of earlier sages.

PART 5. MESSAGE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. David declares his intention of singing in praise of the wonders that Hashem will perform. He promises to carry the message of Hashem’s deliverance to future generations.

(יז) אֱלֹקִים לִמַּדְתַּנִי מִנְּעוּרָי וְעַד־הֵנָּה אַגִּיד נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ: (יח) וְגַם עַד־זִקְנָה וְשֵׂיבָה אֱלֹקִים אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי עַד־אַגִּיד זְרוֹעֲךָ לְדוֹר לְכָל־יָבוֹא גְּבוּרָתֶךָ:

(17) O G-d, from my very youth You have accustomed me [to the awareness that everything comes from You]. [From then] until now I have continued to declare Your wonders. (18) And even into advanced old age, O G-d, don’t forsake me in order that I [can] proclaim the strength of Your arm to this generation, Your omnipotence to all [that are yet] to come.

PART 6. PLEA TO BE COMFORTED. David begins to formulate His future praises to Hashem. He then asks to be restored to Hashem’s good graces.

(יט) וְצִדְקָתְךָ אֱלֹקִים עַד־מָרוֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתָ גְדֹלוֹת אֱלֹקִים מִי כָמוֹךָ: (כ) אֲשֶׁר [הראיתנו] הִרְאִיתַנִי צָרוֹת רַבּוֹת וְרָעוֹת תָּשׁוּב [תחיינו] תְּחַיֵּינִי וּמִתְּהֹמוֹת הָאָרֶץ תָּשׁוּב תַּעֲלֵנִי: (כא) תֶּרֶב גְּדֻלָּתִי וְתִסֹּב תְּנַחֲמֵנִי:

(19) Your merciful justice, O G-d, [reaches] to heaven. [You] Who have done magnificent things, O G-d, who can compare to You? (20) [You] Who have demonstrated Your power to me [and to all of us] through many and painful misfortunes, revive me again. From the depths of the earth, raise me again. (21) [By forgiving my sins] You will be increasing my merit. Turn back [from Your displeasure] to comfort me.

PART 7. CONCLUSION. David concludes the mizmor by stating his intention to sing in gratitude to Hashem for the deliverance that he is confident will come. His song will be performed with musical accompaniment and will include eleborate descriptions of the downfall of his enemies.

(כב) גַּם־אֲנִי אוֹדְךָ בִכְלִי־נֶבֶל אֲמִתְּךָ אֱלֹהָי אֲזַמְּרָה לְךָ בְכִנּוֹר קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל: (כג) תְּרַנֵּנָּה שְׂפָתַי כִּי אֲזַמְּרָה־לָּךְ וְנַפְשִׁי אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ: (כד) גַּם־לְשׁוֹנִי כָּל־הַיּוֹם תֶּהְגֶּה צִדְקָתֶךָ כִּי־בֹשׁוּ כִי־חָפְרוּ מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתִי:

(22) I too, I will thank You with the ten-tone bagpipe for Your faithfulness, My G-d. I will sing to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Yisrael. (23) My lips will rejoice in song when I play music to You, with [the song of] my soul that You have redeemed. (24) My tongue, too, will utter Your merciful deeds all day long. [I will sing of] how those who seek my harm are shamed and how they are humiliated.

Learning the Mizmor

PART 1. DECLARATION OF BITACHON

(א) בְּךָ ה‘ חָסִיתִי
אַל אֵבוֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָם:

Even though I have endured much, I continue to seek refuge in You, Hashem — בְּךָ־ה’ חָסִיתִי – and rely upon You. I know that because You are eternal, Let me never be shamed — אַל־אֵבוֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָם – by those who mock me for trusting in You after all this time.

(ב) בְּצִדְקָתְךָ תַּצִּילֵנִי וּתְפַלְּטֵנִי
הַטֵּה אֵלַי אָזְנְךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי:

I know that I need never be shamed because although I am a sinner, I depend on Your merciful justice, which gives me the opportunity to mend my ways. And so I ask that You rescue me from potential threats and deliver me from immediate danger — בְּצִדְקָתְךָ תַּצִּילֵנִי וּתְפַלְּטֵנִי . But I am now in difficult straits, so don’t delay the Geulah. Incline Your ear to me now. Hear this prayer and save me now — הַטֵּה־אֵלַי אָזְנְךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי .

(ג) הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר מָעוֹן לָבוֹא תָּמִיד

Be a sheltering rock for me — הֱיֵה לִי לְצוּר מָעוֹן , a place where I can be secure, beyond the reach of my enemies, a place to which I may always come — לָבוֹא תָּמִיד , and appeal to Your holy Presence.

צִוִּיתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי כִּי סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אָתָּה:

In the past You decreed my salvation — צִוִּיתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי — by giving me the opportunity to perform Your mitzvos. For You have ever been like my towering Rock and my Fortress — כִּי־סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אָתָּה – that is high up on a cliff to protect me within its walls.

(ד) אֱלֹקַי פַּלְּטֵנִי מִיַּד רָשָׁע
מִכַּף מְעַוֵּל וְחוֹמֵץ:

My G-d, deliver me from the hand of the rasha — אֱלֹקַי פַּלְּטֵנִי מִיַּד רָשָׁע , from the grasp of the concealed stalker and the violent criminal — מִכַּף מְעַוֵּל וְחוֹמֵץ .

PART 2. GRATITUDE FOR PAST MIRACLES

(ה) כִּי אַתָּה תִקְוָתִי אֲדֹ־נָי ה‘
מִבְטַחִי מִנְּעוּרָי:

For You have always been my only hope for the future — כִּי־אַתָּה תִקְוָתִי , O my Master — אֲדֹ־נָי , Who will surely have pity on His servant. You are Hashem/Elokim — ה’ , Who tempers His strict judgmernt with mercy. I have relied on You in the past as my secure refuge from the earliest days of my youth — מִבְטַחִי מִנְּעוּרָי .

(ו) עָלֶיךָ נִסְמַכְתִּי מִבֶּטֶן
מִמְּעֵי אִמִּי אַתָּה גוֹזִי
בְּךָ תְהִלָּתִי תָמִיד:

My entire existence in the world was by Your hand and therefore if I am now in distress, I know it is for my benefit, to purify me. I depended on You from the time I was an embryo in the darkness of the womb — עָלֶיךָ נִסְמַכְתִּי מִבֶּטֶן – for You sustained me through the body of my mother. Then You withdrew me into the light from the innards of my mother — מִמְּעֵי אִמִּי אַתָּה גוֹזִי – with the miraculous process of birth. My praise is always of You — בְּךָ תְהִלָּתִי תָמִיד – because You brought me into the light of day and continue tro show mne You kindness.

(ז) כְּמוֹפֵת הָיִיתִי לְרַבִּים
וְאַתָּה מַחֲסִי עֹז:

When I survived all my challenges and dangers under Your protection, I became a marvel to the many people — כְּמוֹפֵת הָיִיתִי לְרַבִּים – who had been skeptical of my trust in You. You were my refuge of strength — וְאַתָּה מַחֲסִי־עֹז .

(ח) יִמָּלֵא פִי תְּהִלָּתֶךָ
כָּל הַיּוֹם תִּפְאַרְתֶּךָ:

When I am rescued from my current travail, my mouth will be filled with Your praise — יִמָּלֵא פִי תְּהִלָּתֶךָ . Every day — כָּל־הַיּוֹם – I will continue to offer an ever-growing glorification of You — תִּפְאַרְתֶּךָ as Your wondrous deeds are revealed to me with increasing brightness and clarity.

PART 3. PLEA FOR THE PRESENT

(ט) אַל תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי לְעֵת זִקְנָה
כִּכְלוֹת כֹּחִי אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי:

You helped me when I was young. But now I have grown old. Don’t cast me off in my time of old age — אַל־תַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי לְעֵת זִקְנָה . Now when my strength is failing, don’t forsake me — כִּכְלוֹת כֹּחִי אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי , lest people say it was the vigor of youth that saved me in times past, rather than Your help. And if my ability to serve you has diminished because of my failing strength, don’t abandon me. Let them not say my failure to serve You was intentional.

(י) כִּי אָמְרוּ אוֹיְבַי לִי
וְשֹׁמְרֵי נַפְשִׁי נוֹעֲצוּ יַחְדָּו:

For my enemies speak against me — כִּי־אָמְרוּ אוֹיְבַי לִי , and those who have been waiting to take my life — וְשֹׁמְרֵי נַפְשִׁי – now feel free to act because they think Hashem has rejected me and so they consult together — נוֹעֲצוּ יַחְדָּו , …

(יא) לֵאמֹר אֱלֹקִים עֲזָבוֹ
רִדְפוּ וְתִפְשׂוּהוּ כִּי אֵין מַצִּיל:

… saying to each other, “Until this point David was victorious in his wars but now have an opportunity, for G-d has forsaken him — לֵאמֹר אֱלֹקִים עֲזָבוֹ – because of his sins and left him to his own fate. Even his own son has turned against him. Let us now pursue and catch him — רִדְפוּ וְתִפְשׂוּהוּ , for there is no rescuer — כִּי־אֵין מַצִּיל .” I therefore appeal to You, Hashem, prove them wrong and don’t forsake me.

(יב) אֱלֹקִים אַל תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי
אֱלֹקַי לְעֶזְרָתִי חוּשָׁה:

O G-d, don’t be far from me — אֱלֹקִים אַל־תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי . Don’t push off the date of my yeshuah into the distant future. Show my enemies that you have not distanced Yourself from me. You have always judged me with understanding for You are my G-d — אֱלֹקַי – and I serve You. Even when I have sinned, I have not thrown off Your yoke from me completely and I beg your forgiveness and don’t reject me. So hurry to my assistance — לְעֶזְרָתִי חוּשָׁה – and bring the yeshuah soon. Don’t let them think they have succeeded.

(יג) יֵבֹשׁוּ יִכְלוּ שֹׂטְנֵי נַפְשִׁי
יַעֲטוּ חֶרְפָּה וּכְלִמָּה מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתִי:

Let the accusers of my soul be shamed when they see that they are finished — יֵבֹשׁוּ יִכְלוּ שֹׂטְנֵי נַפְשִׁי . They will be forced to give up their attempt to undermine me in Your eyes because You are with me. Let those who seek my harm be wrapped in disgrace for having attempted to indict me and in humiliation for failing in their attempt — יַעֲטוּ חֶרְפָּה וּכְלִמָּה מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתִי .

PART 4. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

(יד) וַאֲנִי תָּמִיד אֲיַחֵל
וְהוֹסַפְתִּי עַל כָּל תְּהִלָּתֶךָ:

As for me — וַאֲנִי , though it takes a long time, I will always hope — תָּמִיד אֲיַחֵל and trust in Your yeshuah. And even in the midst of my present troubles, I hope to maintain my closeness with You by adding to all Your praise — וְהוֹסַפְתִּי עַל־כָּל־תְּהִלָּתֶךָ – that I expressed to You when I was at peace. And now with each successive victory that You grant me over my enemies I hope to add even more praise.

(טו) פִּי יְסַפֵּר צִדְקָתֶךָ כָּל הַיּוֹם תְּשׁוּעָתֶךָ
כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי סְפֹרוֹת:

My mouth will tell the examples of Your merciful justice every day — פִּי יְסַפֵּר צִדְקָתֶךָ כָּל־הַיּוֹם , when I praise You for Your yeshuah — תְּשׁוּעָתֶךָ , though there are so many examples that I do not know their numbers — כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי סְפֹרוֹת .

(טז) אָבוֹא בִּגְבֻרוֹת אֲדֹ־נָי ה‘

When I tell of Your merciful justice and Your yeshuah, I will come with praise and contemplation upon the mighty deeds of the Lord, Hashem/Elokim — אָבוֹא בִּגְבֻרוֹת אֲדֹ־נָי ה’ , Who is the Source of all existence.

אַזְכִּיר צִדְקָתְךָ לְבַדֶּךָ:

But since these concepts are not accessible to everyone, I will refer especially to Your merciful justice — אַזְכִּיר צִדְקָתְךָ , by which You grant man the opportunity to do teshuvah and achieve a moral rebirth, despite his sins and despite the laws of justice that You Yourself have established. This forgiveness is a unique quality that is Yours alone — לְבַדֶּךָ , because through it You blot out past sins as though they had never existed.

PART 5. MESSAGE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

(יז) אֱלֹקִים לִמַּדְתַּנִי מִנְּעוּרָי

O G-d — אֱלֹקִים , throughout my life You have showed me your miraculous yeshuos and given me the understanding to appreciate them. And so from my very youth You have accustomed me — לִמַּדְתַּנִי מִנְּעוּרָי to the awareness that everything comes from You.

וְעַד הֵנָּה אַגִּיד נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ:

Accordingly, from then until now — וְעַד־הֵנָּה , when I have become advanced in years and people suspect that my bond with You has been weakened through habit, I have continued to declare Your wonders with honest enthusiasm — אַגִּיד נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ , which I will hope to do as long as I live.

(יח) וְגַם עַד זִקְנָה וְשֵׂיבָה אֱלֹקִים
אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי עַד אַגִּיד זְרוֹעֲךָ לְדוֹר
לְכָל יָבוֹא גְּבוּרָתֶךָ:

And even into advanced old age, O G-d — וְגַם עַד־זִקְנָה וְשֵׂיבָה אֱלֹקִים , just as you have not given up on me in the past, don’t forsake me — אַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי – in order that I can personally proclaim the strength of Your arm to this generation — עַד־אַגִּיד זְרוֹעֲךָ לְדוֹר . And then through my writings let me proclaim Your omnipotence to all generations that are yet to come — לְכָל־יָבוֹא גְּבוּרָתֶךָ .

PART 6. PLEA TO BE COMFORTED

(יט) וְצִדְקָתְךָ אֱלֹקִים עַד מָרוֹם

I will not only proclaim Your unlimited might, but Your merciful justice, O G-d, which reaches to heaven — וְצִדְקָתְךָ אֱלֹקִים עַד־מָרוֹם , – even beyond the stars. All the heaveny bodies are supported by Your merciful justice. And for the sake of even one repentant man, You suspend the universal law of cause and effect according to which he would have had to perish as a result of past sin.

אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ גְדֹלוֹת אֱלֹקִים מִי כָמוֹךָ:

You, Who have done magnificent things — אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתָ גְדֹלוֹת , O G-d, who can compare to You — אֱלֹקִים מִי כָמוֹךָ ? There is no power than create even the tiniest insect, whereas You have created the entire universe.

(כ) אֲשֶׁר הִרְאִיתַנִי [הראיתנו] צָרוֹת רַבּוֹת וְרָעוֹת
תָּשׁוּב תְּחַיֵּינִי [תחיינו]
וּמִתְּהֹמוֹת הָאָרֶץ תָּשׁוּב תַּעֲלֵנִי

You, Who have demonstrated Your power to me [and to all of us] through many and painful misfortunes — אֲשֶׁר הִרְאִיתַנִי צָרוֹת רַבּוֹת וְרָעוֹת , revive me again — תָּשׁוּב תְּחַיֵּינִי , as You did in the past. From the depths of the earth — מִתְּהֹמוֹת הָאָרֶץ – raise me again — תָּשׁוּב תַּעֲלֵנִי .

(כא) תֶּרֶב גְּדֻלָּתִי וְתִסֹּב תְּנַחֲמֵנִי:

By forgiving my sins You will enable me to serve You with renewed devotion, at an even greater level than before. Thus, You will be increasing my merit — תֶּרֶב גְּדֻלָּתִי in Your eyes. Turn back from Your displeasure to comfort me — וְתִסֹּב תְּנַחֲמֵנִי for I long to be close to You again.

PART 7. CONSOLATION

(כב) גַּם אֲנִי אוֹדְךָ בִכְלִי נֶבֶל אֲמִתְּךָ אֱלֹקָי
אֲזַמְּרָה לְךָ בְכִנּוֹר קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל:

When You elevate me in Your eyes, I too — גַּם־אֲנִי will increase my expressions of gratitude. I will thank You with the ten-tone bagpipe to elevate my spirit to the holiness of gratitude for Your faithfulness, My G-d — אוֹדְךָ בִכְלִי־נֶבֶל אֲמִתְּךָ אֱלֹקָי . I will sing to You with the lyre, the instrument dedicated to You alone because You are the Holy One of Yisrael — אֲזַמְּרָה לְךָ בְכִנּוֹר קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל .

(כג) תְּרַנֵּנָּה שְׂפָתַי כִּי אֲזַמְּרָה לָּךְ
וְנַפְשִׁי אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ:

My lips will rejoice in song when I play the lyre in devotion to You — תְּרַנֵּנָּה שְׂפָתַי כִּי אֲזַמְּרָה־לָּךְ . My lips will sing in unison with the song of my soul that You have redeemed from fear and oppression — וְנַפְשִׁי אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ – and which will once more be able to experience the full joy of loving gratitude.

(כד) גַּם לְשׁוֹנִי כָּל הַיּוֹם תֶּהְגֶּה צִדְקָתֶךָ
כִּי בֹשׁוּ כִי חָפְרוּ מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתִי:

My tongue, too, will utter stories of Your merciful deeds all day long — גַּם־לְשׁוֹנִי כָּל־הַיּוֹם תֶּהְגֶּה צִדְקָתֶךָ . With lips and tongue I will sing of how those who seek my harm are shamed and how they are humiliated — כִּי־בֹשׁוּ כִי־חָפְרוּ מְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתִי – in seeing that rather than being brought down by this ordeal, it has served to elevatre my standing in Your eyes.

Sources

The primary sources used in the interpretation of the verses of this mizmor are listed below.

א – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, המאירי, מצודות, נר לרגלי

ב – בן־רמוך, רשר”ה, נר לרגלי

ג – רש”י, ספורנו, מצודות, רשר”ה, נר לרגלי

ד – רש”י, בן־רמוך

ה – אבן עזרא, בן־רמוך, מלבי”ם, רשר”ה

ו – רד”ק, המאירי, בן־רמוך, מצודות, מלבי”ם, נר לרגלי

ז – אבן עזרא, בן־רמוך, מלבי”ם

ח – רד”ק, מלבי”ם, רשר”ה

ט – אבן עזרא, מצודות, מלבי”ם, נר לרגלי

י – רש”י, רד”ק, המאירי, בן־רמוך, מלבי”ם, נר לרגלי

יא – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, בן־רמוך, מצודות

יב – רש”י, רד”ק, בן־רמוך, נר לרגלי

יג – רד”ק, בן־רמוך, מצודות, נר לרגלי

יד – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, בן־רמוך, מצודות, דעת סופרים

טו – רש”י, רד”ק, נר לרגלי

טז – רש”י, רד”ק, בן־רמוך, רשר”ה

יז – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, המאירי, בן־רמוך, מצודות, רשר”ה, נר לרגלי

יח – רד”ק, מצודות, רשר”ה

יט – רש”י, רד”ק, בן־רמוך, אבן יחייא, רשר”ה

כ – רד”ק, בן־רמוך, מצודות

כא – בן־רמוך, נר לרגלי

כב – רד”ק, בן־רמוך, נר לרגלי

כג – רש”י, רד”ק, המאירי, בן־רמוך, נר לרגלי

כד – רד”ק, מצודות